Back From Prison, Built For Revenge - Chapter 45: Chapter 45

Phoebe sat on the floor, her face streaked with tears. Her trembling hands were smeared with Chloe's blood from the wound on her forehead, the crimson liquid impossible to wipe away.
Bright red blood trickled down Chloe's temple, spreading across the carpet, a ghastly sight.
"Chloe, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to. Please forgive me," Phoebe sobbed hysterically, her voice raw and ragged.
Evelyn's bedroom was in complete disarray. Medical instruments lay strewn across the floor, and a sickening mix of medicine and blood hung heavy in the air.
A doctor rushed in, frowning at the chaos, and quickly made his way to Chloe to check her injuries.
"Fortunately, it's just a superficial wound," the doctor said gravely. "But she needs complete rest. Otherwise, there could be lasting complications."
At these words, Phoebe finally let out a breath she'd been holding, her body collapsing onto the floor as she gasped for air. Yet the terrifying scene from just moments ago kept haunting her mind. She had nearly caused an irreparable disaster.
Hayden remained in the corner, his face grim and utterly silent. "Mom," he finally spoke, his voice low and heavy. "Why did you do this?"
Phoebe suddenly looked up, her eyes bloodshot as she stared fixedly at Hayden. "I-I didn't mean to," she stammered, her voice trembling. "I just wanted her to shut up."
"Shut up?" Hayden sneered, looming over his mother. "You actually hit her with a stone sculpture? Do you realize she could have died?"
Phoebe's whole body jolted, and fresh tears streamed down her face again. "Hayden," she choked out between sobs, "I truly didn't mean to. I-I was just so terrified."
Hayden's gaze was icy. "What are you so afraid of? Afraid she'll expose our family's dirty laundry? Or afraid she'll ruin Yolanda?"
Phoebe broke down completely, burying her face in her hands as she wailed, a piercing, anguished sound that echoed through the room.
Yolanda was settled onto the sofa, her face still marked with bruises. Yet her eyes shone bright, almost triumphant.
"Hayden," Yolanda whined weakly, her voice dripping with feigned grievance, "this time it was truly Chloe's fault. I just wanted to visit Grandma."
"My fault?" Chloe's weak voice drifted from the bed. She slowly opened her eyes, fixing Yolanda with an icy glare. "Whose fault did you say?"
Yolanda flinched back in fear but quickly regained her composure. "Chloe," she said with feigned innocence, "I know you misunderstood me, but this time, you threw the first punch."
"Enough." Chloe coldly cut her off, "Yolanda, do you really think anyone would buy your bullshit?"
"Chloe, I'm not lying." Yolanda bit her lower lip, her eyes brimming with tears, as she turned a pleading gaze to Hayden. "Hayden, you believe me, right?"
Hayden remained silent, his brow furrowed as he studied Chloe with an inscrutable gaze.
"Enough," A low, authoritative voice cut through their bickering. It was Sadie, standing in the corner.
The sixty-something woman, her face lined with years but her spirit undiminished, stepped forward slowly, her sharp, scrutinizing gaze sweeping over everyone in the room.
"I've witnessed everything that's transpired in this household lately," Sadie began, her voice calm but with steel in her tone.
She continued, "From Ms. Quinn being drugged, to Mrs. Evelyn Stone's sudden illness, and now today's farce, can't any of you see where the real problem lies?"
The moment her words fell, a stunned silence descended upon the room. All eyes were on Sadie, even Phoebe, who had been softly sobbing, ceased her tears and gazed at the elderly woman, her eyes swollen and red.
Sadie continued sternly, "If we don't enforce strict discipline and put an end to this family infighting, I fear it will lead to something truly catastrophic."
Her words hit like a sledgehammer, leaving everyone in the room holding their breath.
Peter, who had been standing silently by, now wore a ghastly expression.
As he looked around at his family, each displaying different emotions, yet all rife with tension and animosity, he finally realized just how deeply fractured this family was. And as its patriarch, he had never truly fulfilled his responsibilities.
After Sadie left, the atmosphere in the room grew even more suffocating.
Peter fixed his gaze on Yolanda, who was trembling like a leaf. His eyes, though weary and clouded with age, still blazed with a piercing fury.
"Yolanda," Peter roared, "How many more things are you hiding from us?"
Terrified, Yolanda collapsed, tears streaming down her face as she pleaded, "Dad, I swear I didn't. I just wanted to help Hayden. I never meant to hurt Grandma."
"Help Hayden?" Peter let out a cold laugh. "Is that what you call helping, using dirty tricks to set people up?"
Phoebe, desperate to keep things from spiraling further out of control, rushed forward to help Yolanda up.
With tears streaming down her face, Phoebe pleaded, "Peter, I admit Yolanda was wrong this time, but you can't blame her entirely. After all—"
"What?" Peter snapped, violently shaking off Phoebe's hand. "If you hadn't spoiled her rotten all these years, would she have dared to pull these stunts?
"Now look what she has done? She turned this household into a complete circus. Are you happy now?"
The accusations rendered Phoebe speechless; she could only cling to Yolanda, tears silently streaming down her face.
Sitting on the floor, Yolanda still gazed up at her father with those big, tear-filled eyes, trying to play on his sympathy. But this time, it was clear that her usual tactic failed.
After everyone left, the room finally settled into an oppressive silence. Only Evelyn, who was still unconscious, remained, her faint breathing barely audible.
By the window, Peter stood alone, cigarette in hand, lost in a turmoil of emotions he'd never felt before.
As Peter gazed out at the ink-black vastness of the night sky, memories of happier, warmer times with his family surfaced unbidden.
Peter remembered how, when Chloe was little, she would always cling to him, begging for stories.
Every time Peter came home from a business trip, Chloe would rush over and hug his leg, greeting him in that soft, sweet voice of hers.
Even after Chloe learned the truth, she remained respectful and polite, never once complaining to Peter or Phoebe.
At this thought, Peter took a long drag from his cigarette and exhaled in a weary sigh, letting all his complicated feelings out in that single breath.
Over the years, Peter had owed Chloe far too much, and now, there was no chance left to make amends.
After much hesitation, Peter finally pulled out his phone and dialed. In a hoarse voice, he said, "Yael, we need to discuss Chloe's marriage."